India lost all grip of the third Border Gavaskar Trophy Test in the second session on Sunday as Australia rattled off 130 runs in just 27 overs without the loss of any wickets courtesy of Travis Head and Steve Smith. The former played his typical role of aggressor to maraud his way to a third Test ton against India, off just 115 balls and including 13 boundaries, with the partnership an unbeaten 159 runs at Tea. The visitors were exasperated for a breakthrough the longer Head’s epic carried on but every attempt proved to be futile, such was the form of the South Australian maverick on the day.
The moods of both camps were perfectly captured in one incident at the start of the 61st over. Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Mohammed Siraj and engaged him in a discussion on ways they could stop Head. Shubman Gill, on ball-shining duties, promptly joined in as did Akash Deep who had proved to be highly effective on the day. With Head in full flow akin to the World test Championship final, the quartet after a long discourse opted to go for the short ball strategy that had ultimately brought about his demise on that fateful day. Alas, they failed to realize how predictable the plan was — Head stylishly swivelled on his back foot and slammed a pull towards square leg for a boundary.
Twitterati could not help but muse how the one incident encapsulated the entire session’s story in one delivery.
What was that discussion about
Sad
Ind fans watching Head go big once again and Smith back in form. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/7my7doX8Vo
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 15, 2024
*Indian Bowling unit exists*
Travis Head :#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/aYZsiIpmOQ— UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) December 15, 2024
Boss
Good day
*Rohit Sharma trying to have a good day*
Travis Head everytime: pic.twitter.com/KQGz5RfNGM— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 15, 2024
travis head har match mein nahi maarna hota hai, ek mein maaro aur dus test khelo wali scheme nahi pata kya
— vishal dayama (@VishalDayama) December 15, 2024
True
Travis Head is to the current generation of Indian cricket fans… what Sanath Jayasuriya, Andy Flower, Saeed Anwar and Gary Kirsten did to us in the 1990s. #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 15, 2024
I don’t
I don’t remember any batter who has been this consistent against any particular team.
Travis Head, when you stopping mate? pic.twitter.com/GuxJDdvQeu— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 15, 2024
Currently the fielding for Travis Head is like EA cricket. Wherever he hits a boundary, next delivery a fielder goes there.
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) December 15, 2024
Bully
